How Will the Climate Crisis Reshape Global Politics? With Former Diplomat and Author, Arthur Snell

In this episode of Intelligence Squared, host Adam McCauley engages with former British diplomat and author Arthur Snell to explore the profound geopolitical implications of the climate crisis. Snell’s new book, Elemental, uses the classical Greek elements—earth, air, fire, and water—as a framework to dissect how climate change is reshaping global power dynamics, security, and international cooperation. From the destabilizing effects of drought and food insecurity in the Sahel to the geopolitical reckoning facing fossil fuel-dependent nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia, Snell illustrates how climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing tensions and creating new vulnerabilities. He also examines the potential for climate-driven migration, the transformation of Arctic shipping routes, and the surprising role of technological innovation—such as the C4 Rice Project—in building resilience. While acknowledging the failures of global governance and the rise of climate denialism linked to populist politics, Snell offers cautious hope in the form of regional coalitions and decentralized climate action, suggesting that incremental progress among like-minded nations may be the most realistic path forward in a fractured world. Key takeaways include the urgent need to reframe climate change not just as an environmental issue but as a geopolitical one; the growing strategic importance of renewable energy and technological adaptation; the fragility of fossil fuel-based economies in the face of transition; and the potential for cooperation on shared challenges like water scarcity, even amid conflict. The episode underscores that while global consensus remains elusive, localized and regional efforts are already driving meaningful change. Despite the daunting scale of the crisis, Snell emphasizes that human ingenuity and pragmatic collaboration offer a viable, if imperfect, way forward.